He's Interested In Every Word I Say

During my walks I see children with their parents at the playground behind our home. Many times I see excited toddlers calling out to their Mommies and Daddies who, sadly, are on a call or in some music or podcast world of their own - not interested to see or listen to the little ones.

How thankful we must be for a God who is never distracted or too busy for us.

Do you talk to Jesus everyday?

He is interested in every word you say

No secretary ever tells you he’s been called away,

I talk to Jesus everyday.

( adapted from the Johnny Cash song ‘I talk to Jesus everyday’)

Last week, verses which speak of God's listening ears and understanding heart kept popping up in my study.

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry.”

Psalm 34:15 NIV

“The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them.”

Psalm 34:17 a

Shikha woke up late. She grabbed a take away coffee as she drove to work. ‘Why am I not able to set aside time to pray, Lord?’ And quite suddenly she thought, isn't this my prayer? A smile lit her face. As she drove on she talked to God about her concerns, her joys and her dreams.

Leena had lived through a turbulent week with the twins being sick. Most nights had seen her sitting up with one of them. She was glad they were getting better. She closed her eyes and her prayer was a sigh of thankfulness. She was so grateful for Anand's work, their cozy apartment, the children and their hugs.

“When you cannot pray as you should, pray as you can.”

Dean Goulburn.

When my mother passed away, my Dad, try as he might, was not able to attend regular Sunday morning worship by himself. My parents had enjoyed their Sunday services together for 28 years and had loved the hymns so going by himself seemed hard. After his bereavement, Appa sat in his garden and meditated on the goodness of God, talked to God, and wrote essays on his own faith journey. Those times with Jesus, under the trees, led him to start a Social Service Centre in my mother’s name which still blesses several children and families in many ways.

This quote reminded me of my dear Appa.

“God comes in a garden, by the seashore, in music or by making oneself an instrument of His love in serving the needy.”

R W Young 

Riya found it hard to balance work and her papers at University. She listened to worship songs on the bus and journaled her prayers during her lunch breaks. Stella loved gardening, it was her time with God. Neena found the kitchen, her Cathedral. As she cut and baked and fried, her heart was full of praise.

Samuel was an ophthalmologist who worked in a Charity organization conducting eye camps. One day he felt that he could do life with less pay. He went to his boss and requested that his pay be reduced to half. It was his thank offering to His God.

God to enfold me, God to surround me

God in my thinking , God in my words

God in my sleeping, God in my waking

God in my watching, God in my hopes.

I love how Jesus prayed in the garden, on the mountains, when he was with many, and when he was by himself. Jesus prayed when he felt alone and confused, before meals in a home, at church, and when he eagerly awaited a miracle. He even prayed on the cross in pain and agony. We can do the same.

Corrie Ten Boom said that prayer could be a steering wheel or a spare tire in our life but for Jesus it was both. Let our prayers be ‘serious, strategic and specific’ as Priscilla Shirer would say.

This song says it so well.

Here is one of my favorite prayer books, with prayers for every season of a woman's life.

Dear God, it’s me and it’s urgent by Marion Stroud. It has taught me to talk to God in honesty and with freedom.

Embrace your own prayer routine. It is your time with your Creator, whether it is in the kitchen among your pots and pans, at your desk among your papers, or on the floor among colourful blocks and dolls, Jesus loves His time with you! And yes, He is interested in every word you say!